Paying for College Without Going Broke December 31, 2004 • As many high school seniors consider which colleges to attend, their families are trying to figure out how to pay for it. Jonathon Clements of The Wall Street Journal has some advice for parents on how to pay for college -- and still save for your own retirement.
Business US Airways Tries to Make Up for Christmas Debacle December 31, 2004 • US Air attempts to make up for its dismal performance over the Christmas holiday by providing VIP treatment to travelers this weekend. The troubled airline cancelled flights and misplaced thousands of bags during the holiday. Now it is asking its workers to volunteer -- handing out potato chips and cocoa to passengers in Philadelphia in hopes of getting back in their good graces. NPR's Frank Langfitt reports.
Books Best Business Books of 2004 December 30, 2004 • The quarterly magazine Strategy in Business publishes its list of the best business books. Randall Rothenberg, the magazine's editor-in-chief, talks about this year's selections with NPR's Steve Inskeep.
Economy Some Analysts Predicting Downturn in Real Estate Market December 30, 2004 • Although 2004 marks the fourth straight record year for housing sales, some economists predict the real estate market will turn downward next year. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.
Business Best Business Books 2004: A Guide December 29, 2004 • Fluctuations in the nation's economic climate have left many in business to seek new ways of coping. As usual, dozens of authors have stepped forward with strategies of how to thrive in today's economy. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Randall Rothenberg of Strategy and Business magazine.
The Color of Money Personal Finance Resolutions December 28, 2004 • Alex Chadwick talks about New Year's financial resolutions. Listeners can e-mail their resolutions to Singletary at daytoday@npr.org, and those who submit the best resolutions will win a free copy of her new book, Spend Well, Live Rich.
Post-Christmas Bargain Hunters Scour Malls December 26, 2004 • Shoppers around the country took advantage of the post-Christmas sales Sunday. We hear from shoppers at malls in Maryland and Virginia.
Business 'What Color Is Your Parachute?' Author on the Job Market December 24, 2004 • We talk with Richard Nelson Bolles, author of the job hunters' bible, What Color Is Your Parachute?. Bolles is now in his 70s, and in the 35th year of publishing the book. He talks about what's changed, and what hasn't, about the job market over the years.
Managing Your Credit Accounts December 24, 2004 • Financial expert Dayana Yochim, author of The Motley Fool's Guide to Couples and Cash joins us to talk about managing the profusion of plastic you've got in your wallet, and gives tips on protecting your credit rating.
Business The Marketplace Report: Citrus Fruit Shortage December 24, 2004 • Florida's flurry of late-summer hurricanes battered groves, leading to fruit prices 50 percent higher than average. Florida is expecting the smallest grapefruit crop since the Depression, and its worst orange crop in 13 years. Hear NPR's Alex Chadwick and Lisa Napoli of Marketplace.
Big Jumps in Paychecks Unlikely in 2005 December 24, 2004 • Salary increases are expected to remain at historic lows next year. But Peter LeBlanc, senior vice-president of Sibson Consulting, says that more Americans will be getting bonuses, which have become a much more popular way of rewarding employees than raises. LeBlanc speaks with NPR's Renee Montagne.
Economy The Marketplace Report: New Home Sales Slide December 23, 2004 • New home sales fell sharply in November by 12 percent to their lowest level in a decade. Hear NPR's Alex Chadwick and John Dimsdale of Marketplace.
Tips for Wise Spending During the Holidays December 23, 2004 • NPR's Tony Cox checks in with veteran financial journalist Lynette Khalfani, author of Zero Debt, The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom, for tips on how you can spend wisely this holiday season.
National For Some, Charitable Donations Replace Traditional Gifts December 23, 2004 • Amid the buy, buy, buy of this holiday season, another concept has taken hold: give, give, give. Increasingly, popular catalogs and some retail stores allow people to donate practical gifts such as a dairy goat or a water buffalo to countries in need, in honor of friends and family. NPR's Margot Adler reports.
Economy Economy Up 4 Percent; Stock Prices at 3-Year High December 22, 2004 • The Commerce Department reports better than expected third-quarter economic growth numbers. Also, year-end trading boosts stock prices to their highest levels since the dot com bust of 2001. Even bad news about the pharmaceutical industry could not dispel the market's buoyant mood. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli.